ISSUED APRIL 2015 To book or request a brochure 01858 414 001 visit www.swanhellenic.com or contact your local travel agent SWAN Swan Hellenic Swan Hellenic Worldwide small ship discovery River Cruises cruises with inclusive shore Our award-winning river cruise excursions and renowned Guest programme features journeys Speaker programmes along the Danube, the Rhône and the Saône HELLENIC DISCOVERY CRUISING Brochures from our sister companies Summer 2016 SWAN HELLENIC DISCOVERY CRUISES SWAN April – November 2016 Travelsphere Just You holidays Voyages of Discovery Hebridean Hebridean Escorted Holiday for single travellers Incorporating Northern Europe, Island Cruises River Cruises Escorted holidays to Europe, the Mediterranean, the Far East, Highlands & islands of Scotland, A collection of relaxing cruises Collection the Indian Ocean and South Africa Escorted tours to North America, Middle East, Far East, Americas, England, Northern Ireland, Wales, along Europe’s picturesque rivers China and Far East, Latin America, India and Africa Eire, the Channel Islands, the Isles the Rhine, Main and Danube Europe, Australia, New Zealand of Scilly & Northern France APRIL – NOVEMBER 2016 and more Please note: we will always send the most up to date brochures - this means the cover designs may differ from those shown above. Group travel Our cruises are perfect for groups. If you travel with 10 or more Here at Swan Hellenic we have a specialist, award-winning Groups adults, whether it’s your family, friends or members of a social team on hand to help you all the way through your booking. club, you can take advantage of our excellent range of benefits. To find out more, call us on our dedicated number: These include: 0845 758 5007 • Dedicated Groups team Monday - Friday from 9am - 5.30pm • Generous discounts and/or free places* • Private cocktail parties* *Subject to minimum numbers and availability. • FREE promotional material so you can keep your group informed Exceptional inclusive value Cruise fares include all flights, meals, gratuities, Guest Speaker programme and shore excursions Email: [email protected] Our offices are open for telephone reservations from 9am to 8pm on weekdays; 9am to 5.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Calls are charged at local rate from a BT land line, calls from other networks or mobiles may vary. Calls may be recorded to ensure high levels of customer service. Note: we will always send the most up-to-date brochure. This means the cover designs may vary to those shown. Data Protection: Swan Hellenic is part of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. The information we hold about you will be used to deal with your enquiry or booking, provide you with our latest news and offers or invite you to take part in research. We may also share your information with other All Leisure Holidays companies who may occasionally contact you about products and services we feel may be of interest to you. For further information, please see the Swan Hellenic Privacy Policy at swanhellenic.com 2015_1070 Welcome timulating, informative, relaxing, sociable – these are just some of the words our Spassengers have used to describe the Swan Hellenic experience. A cruise aboard Minerva is like nothing else, with meticulous attention to the finest details and with a quality and charm that is simply unique. For those with a mind to travel Solovetsky Islands, White Sea, Russia I am delighted to welcome you to Swan Hellenic’s latest brochure, which is filled with an array of wonderful itineraries and exciting new ports of call. I hope you will be inspired to discover some of these spectacular destinations with us during summer 2016. Regular Swan Hellenic passengers will be familiar with our unique style of discovery cruising, which includes visits to smaller, off-the-beaten-track ports. On each cruise we also include a superb selection of shore excursions, helping you to reach the very heart of each destination. In summer 2016 Minerva will explore the White Sea for the very first time, visiting the beautiful Solovetsky Islands. Later in the year she’ll again head south to take in the stunning scenery, intriguing history and cultural gems across the Mediterranean. Cruising closer to home, she will embark on a voyage combining ocean cruising with journeys along the Loire, Seine and Garonne Rivers. You can also discover the numerous treasures of our own British Isles, with a chance to experience Royal Edinburgh’s Military Tattoo and the opportunity to sail up the Thames to Greenwich, from where you can visit the famous Chelsea Flower Show. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll experience a warm welcome and truly impeccable service. A relatively small ship, Minerva has a unique charm and elegance akin to that of a country house hotel, with highlights including a well- stocked library, spacious lounges and a choice of excellent restaurants and bars. Every Swan Hellenic cruise will be accompanied by a panel of distinguished Guest Speakers. Through a series of fascinating talks, they will share with you their unrivalled expertise and knowledge and bring to life, with passion and enthusiasm, the facts and stories that define each of our destinations. At Swan Hellenic, we take care of every detail, so you can sit back and relax as you cruise to some of the world’s most spectacular destinations. Each itinerary is meticulously planned and your cruise fare includes flights, overseas transfers and meals, as well as a tempting programme of shore excursions and all gratuities both on board and ashore. I do hope you will choose to travel with Swan Hellenic in 2016 and beyond. We look forward to welcoming you on board in the future. Kind regards Ian Smith Group CEO, Swan Hellenic Front cover image: Venice, Italy Call Swan Hellenic on 01858 414 001 or visit www.swanhellenic.com 3 “What a cornucopia of delights Swan Hellenic provided! From the ambience, the food, the outstanding lectures and the very excellent service to the new friends we made on board, it added up to a special holiday. Indeed I have bored people rigid singing the praises of Swan Hellenic.” Christina Hodson Exceptional, inclusive value Relax in comfortable and elegant Enjoy the congenial company of Delicious meals complemented by surroundings aboard Minerva your distinguished Guest Speakers relaxed open-seated dining With the ambience of a country house Your expert Guest Speakers are great Dining on board Minerva is a relaxing hotel, Minerva will take you around the characters whose expertise of both the experience with our open-seated dining. world in style. Guests make this charming iconic sights and lesser-known gems make Our attentive yet unobtrusive staff will ship, with its spacious lounges, welcoming our cruise experience so enriching. Their ensure service is at the perfect pace. bars and well-appointed cabins, a home passion and enthusiasm for their chosen From leisurely breakfasts to delicious from home, enjoying a warm welcome and subject – from archaeology, art history lunches and sumptuous dinners, professional service from our friendly staff. and classics to geology, horticulture and exceptional cuisine from our highly skilled Engaging onboard activities wildlife – really comes through during chefs is always on the menu. Imaginative their lively talks. Browse the extensive library, take a dishes showcase their creativity and expert refreshing dip in the pool, enjoy the fresh Professors, doctors and former high- palate as you enjoy beautifully presented air on deck or relax in a quiet corner. ranking military personnel, these leaders meals in your choice of two restaurants. Perhaps learn a new skill such as bridge, in their field are as approachable as they Captain’s gala nights are knowledgeable and happy to chat painting or yoga in one of our workshops. We also include two gala nights per over dinner and accompany you on When the sun goes down, enjoy our varied 15-day cruise, including complimentary selected shore excursions. programme of evening entertainment, cocktail parties, where you can enjoy the from classical concerts and sparkling company of the captain and ship’s officers. revues to light-hearted quizzes and film screenings. 4 CONTENTS Introduction to Swan Hellenic........ 2-25 Cruise destinations summer 2016 ...26-59 Grand Voyages .............36-37 & 60-65 Guest Speakers’ biographies .........66-69 Suites and cabins ......................70-71 General information...................72-75 Booking conditions ...................76-78 Deck plans .................................79 “Each port visited was a delight and all the excursions were well-planned and executed.” Fares ....................................80-81 Ronald Edmonds Cruise calendar ........................82-83 We’ll help you make the most Reach the smaller ports that larger So much included in your cruise fare of your time ashore so you can ships can only pass by Enjoy exceptional value for money with so discover more Minerva continues to lead the way to much included, from the porterage of your Enjoy an included tailor-made shore new and exciting destinations around the luggage to port taxes, all meals on board, excursion programme – worth up globe. Her small-but-perfectly-formed an excellent Guest Speaker programme, to £650 per person – which features size enables her to head straight into the flights and overseas transfers. Gratuities something for everyone. You will visit heart of a destination, and she regularly are also included, which means no further cities of music, culture and art, sites of calls at smaller, off-the-beaten-track ports tipping of waiters, stewardesses, hairdressers, ancient civilisations, remote villages, that are inaccessible to mega liners. As porters, drivers and guides is expected iconic coastlines and inspirational a result, we are able to create a unique or required. Passengers booking selected landscapes. Our well-travelled team have range of itineraries that are meticulously cabins (category A-C) will also receive researched every port of call in detail and planned and reach the heart of numerous complimentary chauffeur service within 75 have carefully selected excursions to make unusual destinations.